Some folks pay a compliment like they expected a receipt.
Frank McKinney "Kin" Hubbard (1868-1930) American caricaturist and humorist
“Abe Martin” comic, San Francisco Call (1912-02-07)
(Source)
Through his Abe Martin character, Hubbard used this phrase in a variety of forms, popularizing (though not originating) it. More discussion about this: “Some people pay a compliment as if they expected a receipt” - The Big Apple - Barry Popik.
Quotations by:
Hubbard, Kin
Live so that you can at least get the benefit of the doubt.
Frank McKinney "Kin" Hubbard (1868-1930) American caricaturist and humorist
(Attributed)
Honesty pays, but it don’t seem to pay enough to suit some people.
Frank McKinney "Kin" Hubbard (1868-1930) American caricaturist and humorist
(Attributed)
Quoted in Time (2 Jul 1973) Also given as "It pays t'be honest, but it don't pay enough t'suit some fellers."
Don’t knock the weather; nine-tenths of the people couldn’t start a conversation if it didn’t change once in a while.
Frank McKinney "Kin" Hubbard (1868-1930) American caricaturist and humorist
(Attributed)
Variant: "'Don't knock the weather. If it didn't change once in a while, nine out of ten people couldn't start a conversation."
Some folks can look so busy doin’ nothin’ that they seem indispensable.
Frank McKinney "Kin" Hubbard (1868-1930) American caricaturist and humorist
(Attributed)
Some fellows get credit for being conservative when they are only stupid.
Frank McKinney "Kin" Hubbard (1868-1930) American caricaturist and humorist
(Attributed)
Being an optimist after you’ve got everything you want doesn’t count.
Frank McKinney "Kin" Hubbard (1868-1930) American caricaturist and humorist
(Attributed)
Beauty is only skin deep, but it is a valuable asset if you are poor or have not any sense.
Frank McKinney "Kin" Hubbard (1868-1930) American caricaturist and humorist
(Attributed)
See Thomas Adams.
If there’s anything a public servant hates to do it’s something for the public.
Frank McKinney "Kin" Hubbard (1868-1930) American caricaturist and humorist
(Attributed)
Th’ only absolutely safe way t’ double your money is t’ fold it once an’ put it in your hip pocket.
Frank McKinney "Kin" Hubbard (1868-1930) American caricaturist and humorist
Abe Martin: Hoss Sense and Nonsense (1926)
Few things make us feel finer than havin’ our judgment vindicated.
Frank McKinney "Kin" Hubbard (1868-1930) American caricaturist and humorist
Abe Martin: Hoss Sense and Nonsense (1926)
Boys’ll be boys, an’ so’ll a lot o’ middle-aged men.
Frank McKinney "Kin" Hubbard (1868-1930) American caricaturist and humorist
Abe Martin: Hoss Sense and Nonsense (1926)
Nobuddy ever listened t’ reason on a’ empty stomach.
[Nobody ever listened to reason on an empty stomach.]
Frank McKinney "Kin" Hubbard (1868-1930) American caricaturist and humorist
Abe Martin: Hoss Sense and Nonsense (1926)
Ever’ once in a while we meet a feller that’s too proud t’ beg, an’ too honest t’ steal, an’ too lazy t’ work.
Frank McKinney "Kin" Hubbard (1868-1930) American caricaturist and humorist
Abe Martin’s Almanack
Full text.
If everbuddy thought before they spoke ther wouldn’t be enough noise in this world t’ scare a jaybird.
[If everybody thought before they spoke there wouldn’t be enough noise in this world to scare a jaybird.]
Frank McKinney "Kin" Hubbard (1868-1930) American caricaturist and humorist
Abe Martin’s Almanack, “January” (1908)
If there’s anything mean in a feller, a little authority will bring it out.
Frank McKinney "Kin" Hubbard (1868-1930) American caricaturist and humorist
Abe Martin’s Back Country Sayings (1917)
Ther’s few things in this life that equal th’ sensation o’ bein’ paid up.
Frank McKinney "Kin" Hubbard (1868-1930) American caricaturist and humorist
Abe Martin’s Back Country Sayings (1917)
If others could only see us as we think we are.
Frank McKinney "Kin" Hubbard (1868-1930) American caricaturist and humorist
Abe Martin’s Back Country Sayings (1917)
We’re all mighty unselfish when it comes t’ handin’ out advice we could use ourselves.
Frank McKinney "Kin" Hubbard (1868-1930) American caricaturist and humorist
Abe Martin’s Back Country Sayings (1917)
Next t’ a circus ther haint nothin’ that packs up an’ tears out any quicker’n th’ Christmus spirit.
[Next to a circus, there ain’t nothing that packs up and tears out any quicker than the Christmas spirit.]
Frank McKinney "Kin" Hubbard (1868-1930) American caricaturist and humorist
Abe Martin’s Back Country Sayings, ch. 7 (1917)
(Source)
Often misquoted as "tears out faster than".
We all run in debt for things we wouldna’ think o’ payin’ perfectly good money for.
Frank McKinney "Kin" Hubbard (1868-1930) American caricaturist and humorist
Abe Martin’s Primer (1914)
We’d all like t’vote fer th’best man, but he’s never a candidate.
Frank McKinney "Kin" Hubbard (1868-1930) American caricaturist and humorist
Abe Martin’s Primer (1914)
Let’s all join th’ good roads movement an’ mend our own ways.
Frank McKinney "Kin" Hubbard (1868-1930) American caricaturist and humorist
Abe Martin’s Primer (1914)
Th’ feller that agrees with ever’thing you say is either a fool er he is gettin’ ready t’skin you.
Frank McKinney "Kin" Hubbard (1868-1930) American caricaturist and humorist
Abe Martin’s Sayings and Wisecracks, ch. 1 [ed. D. Hawes (1984)]
A bad fittin’ suit never wears out.
Frank McKinney "Kin" Hubbard (1868-1930) American caricaturist and humorist
Abe Martin’s Almanac for 1909 (1908)
Full text.
Th’ feller that agrees with ever’thing you say is either a fool er he is gettin’ ready t’skin you.
[The fellow that agrees with everything you say is either a fool or he is getting ready to skin you.]
Frank McKinney "Kin" Hubbard (1868-1930) American caricaturist and humorist
Back Country Folks (1913)
When a feller says, “It hain’t th’ money, but th’ principle o’ th’ thing,” it’s th’ money.
[When a fellow says, “It ain’t the money, but the principle of the thing,” it’s the money.]
Frank McKinney "Kin" Hubbard (1868-1930) American caricaturist and humorist
Hoss Sense and Nonsense (1926)
Th’ only way t’ entertain some folks is t’ listen t’ em.
Frank McKinney "Kin" Hubbard (1868-1930) American caricaturist and humorist
Hoss Sense and Nonsense (1926)
Flattery won’t hurt you if you don’t swallow it.
Frank McKinney "Kin" Hubbard (1868-1930) American caricaturist and humorist
Short Furrows (1913)